Plumb-level



(No Model.)

0. I. LEWIS.

PLUMB LEVEL.

Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

FIGJ.

PIC-3.5.

PIC-3.4. f

N. PETERS. Phowunw m ilnrrn rarns PATENT rrrcc,

OLIVER I. LElVIS, OF NEBRASKA CITY, NEBRASKA.

PLUMB LEVEL.

SJBEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,010, dated January29, 1889. Application filed July 23, 1888. Serial No. 280,830. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER I. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Nebraska City, in the county of Otoe and State ofNebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plumb-Levels, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in plumb-levels; and the objects ofmy improvements are to provide a means of accurately determining thedeflection from a vertical or horizontal line in degrees and inches, andregistering such deflection. I also provide a means of attaching theplumb-level to a straight-edge, and by means of sights provide a meansof determining a straight line between any two points.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 isa horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the weight andgearing viewed from the rear, omitting the pinion 25. The stop 15 isshown in sec tion. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the clamp and sight,-theplate being removed from end of block and turned over, disclosingclamping device on the inside retracted and sight elevated. Fig. 5 isthe same, showing sight lowered and clampingdevice extended and in actof clamping straight-edge, (shown in section,) one arm of clamp beingcut away.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1, number 6 represents a block of wood 1 or other suitablematerial of any dimensions desirable, having a doubly-rabbeted mortise,in which the train is placed, as hereinafter more fully described. Iprefer a block of wood from two to three feet long, three andone-quarter inches wide, and one -quarter inch thick, having on itsfront surface an excavation of sufficient depth to receive the works actuatiug the indices, which excavation is centrally located with referenceto ends and sides, the back being solid, as shown in section, Fig. 2.The ends of the block are grooved, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive theclamping device attached to plate 7, as shown in Figs. a and. Thecap-plate 9, having in its center the circular glass 11, (shown in Fig.2,) serves to inclose the works and exclude dust. This plate is attachedto the block by screws 29 29 29 29. In the cap-plate 9 there is thestop-button 14, by which the stop 15 (shown in section, Fig. 3) isoperated, the stop being attached to the button.

The dial 10 has indicated upon the outer scale degrees and tenths ofdegrees; on the inner scale, degrees, said inner scale being subdividedinto four groups of ninety degrees each. I may insert proper scale toindicate rise of inches per foot. The figures on the dial are to be readeither to the right or left,

as may be indicated by the direction of the hands 12 and 13, both handsmoving in the same direction.

The works, consisting of a weight and train of wheels and pinions,hereinafter described,

are inclosed between the front plate, 16, and

rear plate, 17, rigidly fastened together by the posts 18 and 19, andpost similar to post 19. (Not shown in the drawings.) The wheel 20 hasrigidly attached to it a weight, 21, and at the front end of the arbor22 the short hand 12 outside of the dial 10. On the periphery of wheel20 are sixty cogs, which engage the pinion of ten cogs, which isfastened to the arbor of wheel 24, having upon its periphery sixtycogs,which engage the pinion 25, of fif teen cogs. (Shown in Fig. 2, butconcealed in Fig. 3.) This pinion 25 is attached to the sleeve 26 on thearbor 22. The sleeve 26 carries on its front the hand 13 outside thedial 10. By this train of wheels, cogs, and pinions it will be seen 8 5that the long hand 13 will travel round the circle while the short hand12 is moving through the space marked as fifteen degrees, or that thelonghand will revolve twenty-four times while the short hand revolvesonce. gravity the weighted wheel 20 will always assume a verticalposition, and will cause the short hand 12 to assume that position. Anydeflection of the block 6, carrying the works,

from a horizontal position will cause the hands 5 to movecorrespondingly, indicating the degree of deflection in groups offifteen degrees by the short hand, and parts of fifteen degrees, indegrees and tenths of degrees, by the long hand. Thus, if the short hand12 has moved I00 past the point 15 of degrees and the long hand 13 hasmoved to the point marked, fourteen degrees on the outer scale ofdegrees, the deflection willbe twenty-nine degrees; so tenths of degreesare likewise indicated by the long IO 5 hand 13.

By means of the stop 15, which may be moved inwardly by pressure uponthe stop-' button 14, to eilgage a cog on the wheel 20, the train ofwheels is locked, and deflection, as indicated at the time ofengagement, remains so indicated until the stop is released. This stop15 may also be used to lock the train of wheels when. device is not inuse, thus preventing needless wear and tear. It is apparent that by achange of the grmluatcd scale upon the dial,or an addition thereto withadditioual gearin and hands, the metric system or any other desired unitof measurement may be brought into use, separate or along with thatshown herein. The outer plate, 16, is provided with lugs 27 27, uponwhich the works rest, being fastened to shoulders provided therefi'n inthe block 3 at 29 2 by means of convenient screws, thus holding theworks in place. The dial is rigidly lixed upon the out or plate, 14

Instead of the supportingdevice heretol'ore destmibed, the following(not shown in the drawings) may be used: The train maybe in.- closed ina drum or cylimlrical. cup having one end closed,to the opposite sidesof which projecting arms may be rigidly at'tixed supporting the arbor 22and one end of the arbor of pinion 223 and wheel 2.4-, as shown in Fig.2, the other end being supported by l'ront plate neatly fitting thecylinder and inclosing the train. Outside the plate and rigidly attachedto the surface thereolf the dial 1o should. be placed. The arborcarrying the shorthand l2 and sleeve in, as shown in liig. 2, shouldproject beyond the dial. The end oi. the drum should project far enoughbeyond the hands or indiees to a'l'lord them free movementunder theglass, which should close the front of the drum tightly, being held inplace by a removable rim having a shoulder in which the edge 01: theglass will rest. This rim should be adjusted by means of suitable screwspassing through it and engaging the top edge of the drum.

The drum containing and supporting the actuating machinery may beinserted into an orifice prepared for its reception in the stock andheld in place by means of screws driven through the sides of the drumand engaging the stock at convenient points between the glass and thedial. In this form of construction the weight 21 may be detached fromthe wheel 20, (see Fig. 2,) and the stop 15 will ongage the wheel 21(see Fig. 2) by a projecting shoulder on the lower end of the said stopoperating through a slot in the side of the drum for that purpose whenthe stop-button 1-1 (see Fig. 1) is pressed inwardly.

The clamping device attached to the ends of the block 6 are covered bythe plate 7, Fig. 1, and attached to the block by means of the screws 3and their counterparts on the side opposite to that shown in thedrawings. This plate has a slot, ill, Figs. 1 and 1-,

in which the button 8, Fig. 1, is intended to be operated. Attached tothe button 8, on the inner side within the plate 7, as shown in Fig. 4,is a spring-clamp, 32, bearing against plates 33 and operating in guides34 The extremities of the spring-clamp 32 terminate in sharp points,hook-shaped, prepared to penetrate and hold to wood or similarsubstance. l-Ey depressing the button 8 the hooked points will bepressed down and outward, opening as the downward pressure continued. Onsuddenly releasing the button the spring will. recoil, and the sharppoints will. be driven into any soft substance between them. By th ismeans the devi ee may be readily attached to a straight-edge board whenconvenience in use makes that desirable. The clamps may also be used forsuspending the device.

Fig. 5 shows the button 8 depressed and the sharp points ot' the spring32 separated and ready to clamp the board 35, (shown in section.) Uponthe top of plate 7 there is hinged a sight, so In which maybe raised orlowcred at will. This sight is kept in place, either raised or lowered,by the bearing of the flat spring 37. The arbor of the sight 36 issquared, and the spring 37 bears upon the squared portion oi? saidarbor. The short hand. 12 is fixed to the arbor 22 by means of a. nut,which holds the hand tightly against a shoulder on the end of the arbor.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a )llllll])-l0\'(3l, the oscillatin weighted wheel 20, the pinion23, the cog-wheel 2i, and pinion 25, in combination with the plates 16and 17, posts 18 and 1.9, sl'lpporting train, hands 12 and 13, sleeve 21and graduated dial. 10, as and for the purposes described.

2. In a.- plumb-level, the doubly-rabbeted stock [5, in combination withplate 9, carrying glass 11, seated in the outer rabbet, and frame-workcomposed of plates 16 and 17, connected. by the posts 18 1!), supportedin the inner rabbet by screws 28 through lugs 27, and theactuatingmechanism. supported by said frame-work, as and for thepurposes described.

1:3. In a llllllllb-IGI'O], the hinged sights 36 3G, in eomljlinationwith the level-stock, springs 37, and plate 7, carrying the hingedsights and forming the end plates of the stock.

In a plumb-level, the stop 15, in colnbination with oscillating wheel 24and plates 16 and 9, having slots in which stop moves, as and for thepurposes described.

5. The sp1.ing 32, in combination with the bearhrg-plates 33 33, guides34. 31-, the button 8, slot 31.,and plate 7, as and for the purposesdescribed.

(3. In a plumb-level, the spring 32, the bearing-plates 33 33, guides34, the button 8, slot 31, and plate 7, in combination with the block(i.

In testi mony whereof I affix my sigmtture in presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER I. LElVIS.

\Vitnesses:

J NO. B. VAN DYKE, E. M. CHASE.

